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On the time spent preparing grant proposals

On the time spent preparing grant proposals

Academic research can be hugely stressful. This study shows that the demands of applying for a research grant also carry an emotional toll.

The annual report on the economic status of the profession

The annual report on the economic status of the profession

The proportion of non-tenure-track and non-tenured faculty posts continues to rise across all US institutions. Overall proportion of assistant professors in non-tenure-track posts was 23.4% for 2013–14, compared with 20.8% in 2010–11.

The impact of universities on the UK economy

The impact of universities on the UK economy

The report highlights universities' increasingly significant impact on the economy in terms of output, contribution to GDP, job creation, and overseas investment.

Open science? Try good science

Open science? Try good science

Is Open Science already here? Not exactly. Open Science is more than a subset of projects that make data available or sharing of software tools, often because they received specific funding to do so.

A quite insightful April's fool joke by PLOS founder Michael Eisen

A quite insightful April's fool joke by PLOS founder Michael Eisen

"I co-founded the PLOS in 2002 because I believed deeply that the open access publishing model PLOS espoused and has come to dominate was good for science, scientists and the public."

An automatic paper generator

An automatic paper generator

SCIgen is a program that generates random Computer Science research papers, including graphs, figures, and citations.

Appell an Europa unter Beschuss

Appell an Europa unter Beschuss

Gross war die Unterstützung für einen Appell, den Studierendenvertreter im Zuge der Einwanderungsinitiative veröffentlicht haben. Doch mit dem Aufruf sind längst nicht alle einverstanden. Ein offener Brief von Hochschulangehörigen übt deutliche Kritik.

Solutions sought for immigration conundrum

Solutions sought for immigration conundrum

How can February’s vote in favour of limiting immigration be implemented without harming relations with the European Union or damaging the economy? Many proposals have been made, but each seems to have more opponents than supporters.

Stem cell scientist Haruko Obokata found guilty of misconduct

Stem cell scientist Haruko Obokata found guilty of misconduct

A young researcher who shot to fame in scientific circles when she published an apparently radical and simple way to create stem cells has been found guilty of misconduct by a committee charged with investigating her work

Biologist claims controversial stem-cell method works

Biologist claims controversial stem-cell method works

A Hong Kong developmental biologist says he has succeeded in reproducing a method of reprogramming cells to an embryonic like state by applying mechanical stress.

'Philanthropy Is no substitute for government funding'

'Philanthropy Is no substitute for government funding'

There has been an upsurge in philanthropy for scientific research by America's billionaires. Still, in size and scope, philanthropy pales in comparison to public financing for science.

In numbers we trust?

In numbers we trust?

Scientists go to great lengths to ensure that data are collected and analysed properly, so why do they apply different standards to data about the number of times research papers have been cited and viewed?

Die offene Wissenschaft und ihre Freunde

Die offene Wissenschaft und ihre Freunde

Open Access, Open Science, Science 2.0 - die Titel, unter denen vom Internet eine Beschleunigung des Erkenntnisgewinns erwartet wird, sind vielfältig. Doch wem nützen die entsprechenden Techniken?

Biomedical research's unpaid debt

Biomedical research's unpaid debt

NIH's initiative to support and implement fairer competition for minority students is a welcome step to redress the exploitation of African Americans by science.

Publikation von TA-Swiss

Publikation von TA-Swiss

Die interdisziplinäre Studie zeigt auf, welche Folgen damit verbunden sind, z.B. im Hinblick auf die Persönlichkeitsrechte, den Datenschutz oder den Umgang von Betroffenen mit Krankheitsrisiken.

Shaping science policy in Europe

Shaping science policy in Europe

For the first time, the scientific community acted collectively and across disciplinary or national boundaries as a political actor for the sake of a better science policy for Europe.

Post publication peer review

Post publication peer review

New scientists have grown up commenting on their friends pictures, their silly comments on Facebook and their favorite YouTube videos. Will this practice carry over into their scientific publishing?

How the Wellcome Trust spends its money

How the Wellcome Trust spends its money

The Wellcome Trust has released new data and infographics to show where it spends out money.

Bundesrat Johann Schneider-Ammann reist für Wirtschafts- und Wissenschaftsmission nach Brasilien

Bundesrat Johann Schneider-Ammann reist für Wirtschafts- und Wissenschaftsmission nach Brasilien

Ziele des Besuchs sind die Intensivierung der Wirtschaftsbeziehungen sowie die Stärkung des wissenschaftlichen Austauschs mit der Eröffnung des ersten swissnex in Lateinamerika.

French universities boycott journals

French universities boycott journals

For all the talk that the publishers of major journals such as Science, Nature and the Lancet are charging too much for their wares, it seems a limit has been reached.

Why I don't care about Open Access to research and why you should

Why I don't care about Open Access to research and why you should

Should paywalls stand between the taxpaying public and publicly funded research? Congress recently decided that the answer should be "no."

Standard evaluation protocol 2015-2021

Standard evaluation protocol 2015-2021

Dutch universities will value quality above quantity in publications.

Don't hide the decline

Don't hide the decline

US scientists should not be placated by the ‘flat budget’ myth. Funds are decreasing, and the situation will get worse.